Nov. 19, 2010 - Mo. Governor Jay Nixon announces his plans to pursue the construction of a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County during a press conference at the Greater St. Louis Trade and Construction Council building in St. Louis. (KMOX/Brett Blume)

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -  Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon Friday announced plans to pursue a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.

He said an agreement has been reached with a consortium of Missouri electric utilities to seek an early site permit for the plant.

It would be built at Ameren Missouri’s Callaway County location, where the state’s existing nuclear plant is also located.

Nixon says the sooner the process of building a plant begins, the sooner the state will “reap the rewards.”

“Missouri needs to be at the head of the line for the development of the next generation of clean, efficient and safe nuclear facilities,” Gov. Nixon announced during a news conference at the Greater St. Louis Building Trades and Construction Council headquarters.

“That’s why it’s urgent that Missouri move forward now.”

Missouri lawmakers in 2009 debated legislation designed to help build a second nuclear power plant.

The proposal bogged down after facing opposition in the state Senate.

Nixon also announced that in the coming weeks, he will be working with Missouri lawmakers and members of the energy consortium to pursue legislation allowing them to recover the costs of obtaining an early site permit.

A bill will be introduced in the state legislature by Senator-elect Mike Kehoe, whose district encompasses five counties in central Missouri, including Callaway County.

 

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Filed Under: Ameren, Callaway, County, Missouri, Nixon, nuclear, plant, power

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